Chapter 48: Transformation

MIDNIGHT

    Epsilon's laughter scared her. Even Iota looked shaken. "Epsilon! Pray tell what are you laughing about!" she cried.

    Everyone had stopped in their tracks now. Epsilon calmed himself down. It was his first outburst as Midnight had seen.

    "This is no laughing matter, Epsilon," Theta sternly said.

    Epsilon finally controlled himself. "Well, it's just that..." he said, laughing a bit more, "I've been waiting for this day... hoping it'll come..."

    Theta looked more than surprised. "Why? You know the extent of his powers, and yet...!"

    Epsilon smiled. "You won't understand..."

    Even Iota looked unnerved.

    He faced them all, and when he opened his mouth to speak, Midnight noticed something unusual.

    His teeth weren't like before.

    "Rune, ah, Rune," Epsilon mused, his tail twitching. "He thinks he can best me in magic? I who have trained underneath the King of Magic himself alongside Omicron?"

     Before Midnight knew it, Theta was growling.

     How is this happening? Everyone in the woods is locked in an unhealthy rivalry! Midnight cried.

    "Even Lambda could do little against me," scoffed Epsilon. "Rune couldn't even cast a spell if he wanted."

    "Epsilon! You've forgotten too much!" cried Iota. "You know that isn't true!"

    "Is it, dear?" hissed Epsilon, his voice dangerous and filled with suspicious sweetness.

    Iota blushed and looked away.

    "Epsilon, you know Rune almost casted the Rune Tower, he can cast spells, and even if you deny it, it is true," Theta growled.

    Epsilon paused. "I want to have a battle with him. A duel. Just the two of us. I, Epsilon, him, Rune-Beta and magic."

    Midnight looked trapped. This wasn't the Epsilon she knew!

    "T-that's dense!" piped up Iota. "Please don't do it, E-Epsilon!"

    "This charade has gone too far, Theta," said a low dangerous voice from Epsilon.

    Theta stiffened. "Your... teeth..."

    Midnight could see they were starting to grow sharper. Suddenly, the twitching tail grew, it became long. It was a long black tail.

    All of a sudden, Epsilon's fur all turned dark, and his hooves gave way, claws starting to form. Iota backed away cautiously as Theta's curve upwards. The majestic deer began to shrunk, and suddenly he was on his fours, baring his teeth towards Midnight and Theta before scampering away.

    "That's the real Epsilon."

    The lizard had skulked out of the forest, leaving Iota, Theta and Midnight frightened.

Author's Note: Short chapter. Running out of time. Not cool, sorry.

Chapter 47: Epsilon's Side of the Forest

MIDNIGHT

    Theta was running towards the flying creature. "It got Blaze! It got Blaze!" she shrieked, and Midnight was trying her best to keep up.

    "It's useless!" Midnight screamed, panting. "Blaze... has been taken away!!"

    She knew it's true. She knew Theta was concerned, but both knew that it was impossible to catch up.

    They know that it would be impossible to catch that thing, and once they step outside, they are vulnerable to any threats. Midnight's running started to slow down. "I'm sorry, Theta, we know what's going to happen..."

    Theta stopped running too. "Still... Blaze..."

    Midnight noticed tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry..."

     They stood there in silence, gazing at the sky. No longer was there even a speck of Blaze or the creature. Outside, the magical feeling seem to cease, and that the wind shifted, blowing the grass and their fur.

    "Why...?" Theta asked, and howled louder, "WHY??"

    Midnight didn't want to see tears, or more enemies. She coaxed Theta to return to the forest. At first, Theta didn't want to, but after hearing a beast call, Theta called Midnight to hurry up and take shelter in the woods. Despite her magic, she was not eager to face in battle with the brutes.

    Neither was Midnight, after she seen their power. The two rushed back into the forest.

    "What are you doing here?" a voice addressed.

    "I-!" cried Theta, looking up from her panting. She gasped. "E-Epsilon! I'm so sorry, I-!"

    "He asked you a question," an icy voice followed. "Answer."

    The voice seemed familiar... Midnight looked up. The magnificent white deer stood proudly, his long caramel horns crowning him. At once, Midnight recognised him as Epsilon. Beside him, a chestnut doe stood, her jade eyes glaring at Theta.

    "I was-! Iota!" cried Theta again, straying off topic.

    "Answer him!" barked the doe.

    "No, it's alright, Iota," said Epsilon. "It's been forever since one of you come over, except for Iota, of course, I'm glad you do drop by."

    Epsilon's friendliness never did waver. Midnight though he would chastise the two of them for trespassing, but that seem not to be the case. Epsilon was in his deer form, his regal and polite form. However... Iota...

    Midnight frowned. She remembered the doe apologising... right? Why is she so cold now?

    "Why are you here?" Iota asked instead.

    "We were chasing after Blaze," Theta explained.

    "Pray tell who this Blaze is," scoffed Iota.

    "Iota," Epsilon sternly said. "This may be my part of land, but they are welcome here."

    Iota didn't continue to ask, but hung her head down.

    Epsilon smiled. "Come, let us venture the woods. What worries do you carry?" he said. "I might be of assistance."

    "An outsider wolf... he was by the corner, the edge of the woods, and a creature carried them away," Theta said.

    As they paced forwards, Iota tried to keep pace with Epsilon, but he was interested in Theta's story. "Go on," he prompted.

    "We tried to catch up, but it had wings, the beast... It was out of a dark wispy material..." Theta continued.

    "Like beasts lurking outside the woods," Epsilon said.

    "Yes, those," Theta said.

    It was silent aside for the sound of their steps. "Pray tell why such a foolish creature would venture around here, and yet not enter it?" asked Iota.

    Theta shook her head. "I kept him too long waiting for nothing, he must have been starved," she said.

    "Sad lives, that they carry, like our friend here, Midnight," Epsilon said, remembering the black wolf, and she seemed to be surprised.

    "Secrets," scoffed Iota.

    Theta nodded slowly. "Not all is the same anymore. More secrets, more dangers..."

    She turned to face Epsilon. "Can I tell you something... Epsilon? It's not light, it can lead to our next war, and it be the reason to all our troubles."

    Midnight swallowed. She knew Theta was talking about the truth of Shadow.

    After a hesitant silence, Epsilon said, "Go on..."

    Iota tried to look uninterested, but it wore off as Theta said the words. "Beta has returned."

    "B-Beta!" cried Iota. Midnight knew she had heard stories.

    Epsilon suddenly stopped walking. "Beta..."

    He swung his head towards Theta. "You mean Rune...?"

    Theta nodded.

    Suddenly, the sound of laughter filled the air.

Author's Note: Guys, this one is a complete chapter. The ending is abrupt, I know. Also, I no longer am able to keep up with the story and studies, so I will be posting once in two weeks on Sundays.

In addition, chapter 45 has been updated, it has somehow been cut half way through at now the chapter is complete.

Chapter 46: Wounded Unicorn

DUSK

    "So, how was it?"

    Dusk looked back and saw the stern face of Lambda. He was walking towards Dusk with an unfamiliar gleam in his eyes.

    "It went OK, I guess," Dusk replied. If Lambda was looking for any wind of Shadow- err- Beta, he won't be getting any from her.

    Lambda nodded. "Did you find it?" he asked.

    Dusk shook her head. "No, not yet."

    "Well then," Lambda said, "if you're so persistent to find out, then I suppose Chi would have to spend more time with you."

     Dusk stiffened. It wasn't the best experience, but she suppose it was the only way.

    "Anyway," Dusk said, desperate to change the subject, "where's Midnight?"

    Lambda shrugged. "We of the Silver Woods do as we please within the safety of the woods if we have no desire to harm it," he said. "I do not keep tabs on anyone, not even Midnight, so perhaps there might be someone who had run into her."

    Dusk nodded. Somehow, she wanted to engage in conversation with Lambda, but also avoid him. He's like Shadow before Dusk knew him.

    She knew it.

    She wanted to impress him.

    Impress him so he respects her.

    "I'll be on my way now," Lambda said. "Until next time."

    "Yeah..." Dusk said as Lambda walked off.

    Suddenly, a loud cry came, "CHI!"

    Surprised, Dusk rushed towards the sound- where Lambda headed to. Dusk gave an audible gasp as well when she saw the sight.

    Chi was on the ground, lying on her side, seeming to pant. Lambda was regaining his composure, taking in deep breaths as he chanted something inaudible to Dusk.

    Something twisty, embedded in Chi's side, and with a spell, Lambda carefully removed it. Then, he cleaned her wound very carefully before closing it.

    Even so, Lambda was still shaking when the procedure was over.

    Dusk could hardly hear him whisper, "Chi..."

    "Ungh," Chi groaned.

    "What happened...?"

    The unicorn looked at Lambda. "Someone from the skies attacked me."

    Dusk was unsure if she should remain. When she was going to slip away, Lambda firmly said, "Remain here, Dusk."

    His voice suddenly scared her.

    With help, Lambda helped Chi up onto her four hooves. However, it was made clear that Chi could not travel at the moment, but she managed to sit up. Sighing, Lambda looked at the twisted item.

    So did Dusk.

    It was brown-black, almost as if shining in the little light present, and it was barbed in addition of being sharp. "With a spell on it..." Lambda mumbled.

    "What... spell?" inquired Chi warily.

    "It's a spell to weaken one's body for days and days," Lambda said.

    Chi's expression showed she was horrified.

    "I-! I can't go weakened!" she cried.

    "No, of course not, but one can't oppose the power of a spell either," Lambda responded.

    Lambda shattered the item and magic grounded it up into fine powder.

    "We've been using so many magic in the past days," Lambda growled, "it's impossible to track whose this is."

    Chi moaned. "I guess I'm as well good to die," she said. Facing Dusk, she said, "Sorry, no more memory scouring unless I'm stronger."

    Lambda swung his head towards the two. "You two should stick together. Dusk, try to protect Chi- is that OK?"

    "I don't even have powers!" Dusk protested.

    Lambda smiled. "If magic is everything you need to protect, how did you survive so far until now?"

    "I mean! I'm a non-magical wolf here! You all do magic, and if I'm going to protect her from this magical attacks, how can I even survive through that?" cried Dusk.

    Lambda casually walked away, towards Chi.

    "I will tell you a secret, Dusk," said Lambda. "Look at me- I'm a wolf."

    "So?" snapped Dusk. "So am I!"

    Ever so quietly, Lambda responded, "The wolf is the weakest form a powerful mage like me can chose to remain in. Do you know why I remained in such a form instead of another?"

    Dusk and Chi were silent.

    "It's because I'm weak."

Author's Note: Yay! Delays, delays! You guys probably think: Eh, Rainbow's gone again. Sorry, was busy with family reunion last week!

YOU WANT LAMBDA'S BACKSTORY? Nope, nope, you won't get it yet ahahahah.

Sticking Chi and Dusk for the moment. Chi can do more than memory search you know. You'll see in the next few episodes...

Whoa, it's been a while since I did Dusk, actually.

Chapter 45: Darren's Pack

WISP

    He couldn't believe it. His father, dead, before he could let his children take over. Shadow and the wolf generals sang songs of the death of the great chief, and they all, as a pack, howled into the sky, before the pack split.

    Wisp should build his own pack.

    He wanted to cry. He was far too young! That was absurd! His sister would never let him mate at this age!

    "Hey, are you OK?" asked a voice.

    Wisp looked up and saw Mist. He rushed to her and cried. Mist looked teary eyed too, but Wisp didn't know he could grieve so much for his father. The tears just kept running.

    In the bright sky, something seem to flash.

    "Shh, shhh..." Mist said soothingly, almost like chanting a lullaby. "It's over, but it's not the end..."

    "I can't even start a new pack!" protested Wisp, upset, tears still in his eyes.

    Mist shook her head. "I can, I'm the alpha!"

    "Hey, you didn't just recruit me-"

    "You rushed into me!" Mist protested.

    Wisp growled. "I'm my own pack's alpha."

    "So you want a fight?" Mist haughtily said.

    Wisp playfully lunged at Mist, and the two rolled around, laughing. "Let's just build a pack together," Mist shyly said.

    "Wait- what?"

    Mist nodded. "Perhaps it's time to start a new Nyx, and we're the leaders, Wisp. There wouldn't be any suspicious figures like Shadow or another person you'll end up loathing."

    Wisp smiled. He liked the idea.

    "Yeah," Wisp said. "Without marriage or mating."

    "Alright," Mist said and walked ahead. Wisp bounded along.

    "I'm elder than you are, to others, I'm the alpha, alright?" Mist reminded.

    "Fine," Wisp grumbled.

    "To Nyx II Pack!" Mist cheered.

     Wisp nodded.

     The two walked on, hunting on little squirrels to fill their bellies. Then, they heard the howling of wolves. "That howl sounds familiar," Wisp noted.

    "Yeah..." Mist said, but from her tone Wisp knew she was unsure.

    Wisp was getting curious. "Let's find out," Wisp said.

    "Hey, hey, hey! Territory!" Mist reminded.

    Wisp shrugged. "I just-! I have a feeling to go towards it..."

    "Fine," Mist grumbled. "I'll back you up."

    Wisp nodded. The two walked towards where they think the howl came from. Walking through bushes, between trees and rocks, they finally found a small rocky barren spot that spirals uphill, and there, two brown wolves sat, one with a white underside and the other with a beige mix on their fur.

    The two heard them coming. They glanced over, one with curiosity and the other with ferocity.

    "W-Wisp!" one of the called.

    "T-that voice..." mumbled Mist.

    The one with the white underside hopped down and strode towards them. "Mist too!" the wolf cried.

    "D-Darren?" Mist exclaimed.

    "Yes, i-it's I, Darren," the wolf replied.

    "Whoa, starting a pack?" Wisp inquired.

    Darren nodded. "That's Terra, m-my new m-mate," he said.

    Mist smiled. "Glad to hear, Darren! Soul-mate I hope?"

    Darren nervously laughed. "I hope so," he replied. He glanced around. "W-where's everyone else?"

    "Oh?" Mist said, as if it was obvious. "Nyx Pack has met it's end."

    Darren looked shocked. "W-what!"

    "Chief Darke died," Wisp bluntly said.

    "M-my deepest condolences," Darren replied, shaking his head. "I-I didn't k-know."

    "It was a surprise for all of us," Mist said softly.

    Darren shook his head. "M-my apologies if I sound blunt, b-but Chief Darke had been expecting this d-day."

    "Him being sick, I don't see why not," commented Wisp.

    Mist nudged him, cross.

    "N-no, not like t-that," Darren stammered. "He k-knew that the something that would k-kill him was something not of this world."

    "He was burning, then he fell into the river," Wisp said.

    Darren shook his head. "I don't know m-much about this, I'm s-sorry."

    There was a sharp bark from behind. "W-we've run out of time," Darren said as another wolf came into sight, and lay down beside Terra. "Escarda wouldn't t-think much of the news, b-but I'll tell here."

    "E-Escarda!" exclaimed Mist, surprised.

    The grey wolf barked again, "Darren!"

    Darren shrugged. "She couldn't f-form a pack, so she's w-with me until a male snags her."

    Mist laughed a bit. "Alright, bye Darren."

    "Bye... Darren."

    Darren nodded back stiffly and raced up the rocky hill. Speaking to Terra, he and Escarda moved away, talking animatedly.

    "It's good they've started their pack."

    Mist sounded as if she was wishing she could too.

    "We soon will," Wisp said, though unsure. He forced himself to sound hopeful for Mist. "We will."

Author's Note: AHAHAHA YOU PROBABLY FORGOTTEN DARREN! POOR GUY.

So, the struggle continues! Dum dum dummm...

Chapter 44: Forest's Beginnings

MIDNIGHT

    Midnight didn't want to hear the details of Pi's love life with Agruare, and then excused herself, claiming to try to find Blaze.

    Speaking of which, where is he?

    Not only Blaze, Cullen too.

    The two has been gone forever, she couldn't help wondering but think what happened to them. Did they get lost? Are they with Zeta and Theta?

    Also, Midnight haven't saw the two either. Nor did she see Epsilon, Omega and Alpha.

    She couldn't help but wonder.

    "Oh, Middy!" a voice cried. It was unmistakably Theta's.

    What a coincidental thought, Midnight mused and greeted her back. "Where have you been?"

    "On a wild goose chase trying to find Iota," Theta huffed. "It's not easy to find a shape shifter, Iota. She's really good at hiding."

    "I think she's at Epsilon's," Midnight grumbled, and told Theta how she met the doe, which Pi called Iota.

    Theta nodded. "Sounds like Iota's doe," she commented. "Come, then! If that's true, let's go!"

    Midnight nodded slowly. They walked past trees, and she decided to start a conversation, "Say, where are Alpha, Omega and Zeta?"

    "Them?" Theta inquired. "They're out guarding posts. Zeta and I are taking shifts."

    "I never thought being in the woods would need so much dedication..."

    "Excuse me?"

    Midnight paused. "I mean, I thought you all just do your parties and games, but... you're not doing anything but guarding the woods. Isn't there a magical barrier?"

    "Middy," Theta sighed. "Not everything in life is a game. Perhaps to Rune this is, but not us. We usually have our own lives to run, our little plans and fun, but since we heard Rune has returned, we took more precaution. The Quetzalquatl Barrier would never be as strong as it was, and that these demons are trying to enter. Rune is getting stronger, and we need to prepare for that..."

    "Quetzal- what?" Midnight piped up, ignoring the rest of what Theta said.

    Theta looked at the blue sky. "Quetzalquatl. It's a type of dragon-creature, but not quite. Quartz was the leader of the dragons, and in their battle to defeat Rune, they, however, foresaw the battle's outcome that Rune would win, so, instead, Quartz used their power that called upon the life of his body, every life and magic in him, to create the barrier."

    "So... the barrier doesn't come from the woods?" Midnight inquired, flabbergasted.

    "Nothing comes by easy, Middy," Theta replied. "Not even the fact that this forest turned magical instead of growing already being powered with magic."

    "You mean?" Midnight inquired.

    Theta nodded at the ground. "We used this forest as our training area at first, but using this place turned it into a magical place, where the magic we performed had given this place a new light. Magic seeps into this area, growing bitter vegetation. It was starting to get dangerous, so we tried using a magic ring that would prevent the magic from seeping over.

    "This barrier, however, didn't exactly hold evil out as Quartz's barrier, so there were days when mythical evil tried to take over this land, already powerful. Even so, dragons eventually joined us, the unicorns were forced into banishment for losing and trying to take this land- very few noble ones made through, and griffins had tried to burn this place down.

    "This place had endured so much, Middy, it has a history, it's not always like this."

    Midnight nodded, awestruck. The forest, a heaven, has never been one, except that these people formed it to be one.

    "Oh, Epsilon's area," Theta bluntly said, and Midnight just noticed a rock with weird writings on it. "That rocks marks the start of his territory. Not big, but enough."

    "Why didn't Lambda give a territory to Omega instead?" Midnight questioned.

    "It's just that Epsilon was the one who argued against so many who agreed, it may not be a very good idea, but it's the good for the many," Theta sadly said.

    "Still! Killing all the dragons?" cried Midnight.

    "No!" Theta replied. "No! They're not dead, not killed- not alive either!"

    "Then how?" inquired Midnight.

    "You probably know when we lose power we take form of wolves when we're 'great' enough, but when we die, what's left of us is an orb- our magical soul. Our original soul dies, but the soul formed of magic lives on until it's power is called upon and drained. This magical soul of ours, it does hold part of their consciousness," Theta replied.

    "So, they can talk?" inquired Midnight, curious.

    "Yeah!" said Theta. "Through our minds. We keep them in the sanctuary, where they all are alive. The dragons realised they were harsh and dense back then and accepted their fate. After all, they're more reasonable in their soul-state. We can summon them into another vessel if we want, but then, that's another life risked."

    "What's the difference compared to the Dragons of Stone?"

    "You've seen?" cried Theta.

    Midnight nodded.

     "For the Dragons of Stone, they're alive, their entire soul in the statue, lurking, even their souls can escape and roam free," explained Theta. "Magical souls... if they're just that, then, that's their only life they have."

    Without knowing it, they've reached farther into Epsilon's territory, close to the end of the forest. "Interesting," muttered Midnight.

    "Hee-EEEE-lp!!" a voice shrieked.

    "B-Blaze?" exclaimed Theta, shocked, and began to run forwards. Midnight hurried ahead. By the border, a large dark, shadowy bird was in the air, Blaze in it's talons.

    Then, the wolf was out of sight, just after Theta howled, "BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAZE!!!"

Author's Note: Hey guys! More explanation, origin of the forest, etc., etc., etc.. Not much of action scenes yet so far, soon, I hope...